‘My Last Duchess’ VS ‘Ozymandias’ Power and Conflict Anthology

Structural Analysis Ozymandias is written in a sonnet. Perhaps, this could be the bitterly sarcastic tone of the narrator, making a joke about the subsequent fall of power. There is no pattern to the rhyme scheme, which reflects the natural speech tones of the narrator. The last lines of the poem become increasingly more fluid and the tone is more calm tone compared to the previous lines in the poem. The poem is also written in iambic pentameter. The rhyming scheme of Ozymandias is irregular which could reflect the damaged and broken power of the ruler. ‘My Last Duchess’ is an example of a dramatic monologue. The poem uses a lot of caesura and enjambment, which could show that the narrator is attempting to gather their thoughts together. ‘My Last Duchess’ is also written in rhyming couplets and iambic pentameter like in ‘Ozymandias’. This actually reflects the style of romantic poets at the time despite how ironically this poem is seemingly sinister and dark.

Language Analysis ‘I met a traveller from an antique,’ The adjective, ‘antique’ suggests that the place is old, ancient and ruined. It may also have positive connotations such as elegance, refinement and decadence. ‘Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,’ The phrase, ‘shattered visage’ suggests that it is broken so it is consequently unrecognisable. ‘A sneer of cold command,’ The alliterative phrase highlights that Ozymandias’ tyrannical and great rule upon his subject. The verb is unsettling and demonstrates that he may possibly look beneath his subjects as something that it is essentially less than him. ‘The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed:’ The adverb, ‘mock’ reinstates the bitterly sarcastic tone of the narrator. The word is also an example of a double pun, ‘mock’ could suggests that Ozymandias was belittling his subjects, revealing his high position in society. ‘My name is Ozymandias, kings of kings: Look on my words, ye Mighty and despair!’ The statement is essentially a declaration of power. The tone indicated by the exclamation mark is strong and authoritative. It could also show a shift in power. ‘Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare,’- The adjective, ‘colossal’ helps to emphasise the extended absence of the ruins. Throughout the course of the poem, ‘My Last Duchess’, the speaker uses personal pronouns such as ‘my’ which suggests that he was a domineering and possessive husband. ‘But thanked somehow-I know not how as if she ranked my gift of a nine hundred year old name with anybody’s gift.’ Here the exclamation mark shows a change of structure. The poet is mocking how ironically how vain the Duke is, he cares more about his heritage and status within society. ‘This grew, I gave commands, then all smiles stopped together.’ The use of semi-colons gives some finality to the speaker’s statements. Perhaps, this was due to the culmination of conflict within their relationship.

Themes & Context Robert Browning was a famous poet in the 19th century. He later left British society to marry another poet called Elizabeth Barrett due to her protective father. The two were both familiar with protective patriarchs within their respective families. The poem is actually loosely based on the Duke of Ferra and is written from his own perspective about his next marriage. The poem, ‘Ozymandias’ was written by Percy Bysshe Shelly. He was inspired by an ancient large statue of an Egyptian Pharaoh. Pharaohs like Ramesses believe that they were gods in mortal form and their legacy would last forever. Within the poem, ‘My Last Duchess’, the poet shows ideas of power within the relationship in the 19th century between a powerful member of the aristocracy and his beautiful wife, the titular character, the Duchess. This can be seen through the possessive and personal pronouns which the Duke proudly uses throughout his monologue. This could possibly suggests the amount of power that the Duke has within the Duchess’s life.